Instrument : Rapid Update Cycle Model Data (RUC)

Instrument Categories
Derived Quantities and Models

General Overview

The Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) is an operational atmospheric prediction system comprised primarily of a numerical forecast model and an analysis system to initialize that model. Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System (MAPS) is the research counterpart to the RUC. The RUC has been developed to serve users needing short-range weather forecasts. RUC runs operationally at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP).

The RUC uses a hybrid isentropic-sigma vertical coordinate in which most of the atmosphere is resolved on isentropic surfaces (defined by constant virtual potential temperature) except for layers near the ground where terrain-following (sigma) coordinates are used.

Over the period of time that ARM has been collecting RUC data, the resolution has improved from 60 to 40 to 20 to 13 kilometeters

ARM archives only the hourly analysis data not the forecasts.

Output Datastreams

allruc20hybr : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: hybrid analysis data, 20-km resolution
allruc20isob : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: isobaric main analysis data, 20-km resolution
allruc40hybr : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: hybrid analyisis data, 40 km resolution
allruc40isob : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: isobaric main analysis data, 40-km resolution
allruc60 : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: output, 60 km resolution
fslruc60 : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: FSL output, 60 km resolution
ruc20hybr : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: daily hybrid analysis data, 20 km resolution
ruc20isob : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: daily isobaric analysis data, 20 km resolution
ruc60 : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: output, 60 km grid covering Southern Great Plains
synruc20isob : Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) model: isobaric output, 20 km grid, averaged to 40 km